I had a garden pea sized lump in the equivalent place at the base of my right index finger & asked my physio about it (I haven't got any nodules elsewhere & am sero-negative)
It was getting really sore when I used my hand a lot esp if I wrote or did anything that pressed on it - incl using a computer mouse
She got me in to see the Consultant at my next review intead of the Rheumy nurse
He said it was almost definitely a nodule, as the physio & I thought, but wouldn't inject it in case it was in the tendon & the tendon ruptured
After that he switched me from Humira to Rituximab (in fact he offered me a choice between that & leflonomide)

The really good news is that shortly after my 1st course of rituximab my nodule shrank dramatically & hasn't really been much of a problem since
I'm due to start my next course in 3 weeks, 6 months after the first, so will see what happens...

I had quite a big nodule on my elbow, which was irritating rather than painful. Interestingly it got bigger when I was on Leflenomide, but since I have been on 15 mg of prednis - it has nearly disappeared!

Anne

I have a few of these at the moment - some are marrowfat pea sized! They are all around my wrists so am getting them checked out at the hospital next week as I don't want them to restrict my movement. My rheumy usually injects them with steroids - it's quite sore as he rummages around with the needle 'trying to get underneath the tendon sheath'!

I went to see my consultant last Friday and I mentioned to him that nodules had started to appear on my foot (only the left one at the moment) and that the nurse had told me that it could be MTX causing it. He didn't confirm that it was MTX but did say that if I am genetically prone to them then I will get them now. Also said that people with Scandinavian desent were more prone to getting them. He did laugh when I pointed to my black hair and said I don't think I've got any links to Scandinavia. Also said that people from York and Scotland are more prone to them.

Paula

Edit.....forgot to say that he said the only way to get rid of them was to have them surgically removed

Hello everyone

I had a very large nodule on my right elbow for years - not troublesome but unsightly. Then a few years ago it started to shrink! Now it has disappeared altogether. More recently (last year) I had two nodules removed from two fingers on my right hand. They were getting knocked frequently and sometimes bled badly. I was told they may return but for the moment all is well. I was interested that several members mentioned MTX as being a probable cause - I take 10mg weekly (no other drug), but no-one has suggested to me at the clinic that MTX could be the cause. As for my feet, my main problem is not nodules but "curly toes". Where these rub on shoes I get nasty sores which have to be dressed daily - a job my husband performs expertly. Apart from that problem my feet aren't too bad; but getting comfortable shoes is always difficult.

What I have noticed about the disease is that it often occurs all down one side of the body only. In my case it is the right side - shoulder, elbow, knee (where it all started) and right foot. Also my right hand is worse than the left. I do have some problem in other joints but it is more marked on the right side.

Funny old life, isn't it?

Marian

Well Marian you must be about as odd as me as I am regularly being told that RA is always symmetrical, and if it isn't it soon will be! Well mine isn't, never has been and at this stage looks very unlikely that it ever will be!

Lyn x

Hello all

Sorry I haven't been back to reply. It must have seemed so rude! I've been having problems with my laptop.

Reading through all your responses, it seems I am not alone and it is interesting that MTX is blamed for contributing to the nodules (I'm on 25mg).

I am also of Scottish descent (well, half of me is, anyway) so maybe I can blame that too!

Kathryn
xx